Environmental green light for lithium jobs in the South-West

The WA Government has given environmental approval for a lithium manufacturing plant in the State’s South-West, paving the way for more than 500 construction jobs and up to 500 permanent jobs.

The Albemarle lithium plant will be located in the Kemerton Strategic Industrial Area, 17 kilometres north east of Bunbury. The project has received its Ministerial Statement from the State Government.

When in operation, the Albemarle Kemerton Plant will process spodumene ore concentrate, through five process trains, to produce up to 100,000 tonnes of lithium hydroxide product. Spodumene ore will be sourced from the Talison Lithium’s Greenbushes mine, which in March 2018 announced an expansion to supply the rapidly expanding global lithium market.

The Albemarle Kemerton Plant will create more than 500 construction jobs with an initial 100 operational jobs, increasing to up to 500 at full operational capacity.

Once constructed, the Albemarle Kemerton Plant will be the second, and largest, lithium hydroxide manufacturing plant to invest in Western Australia in two years.

Earlier in 2018, the WA Government established a Lithium and Energy Materials Industry Taskforce to capitalise on WA’s unique resources and growth in the lithium-ion battery sector.

The taskforce is working across government and closely with industry and research organisations to develop a Lithium and Energy Materials Strategy that unlocks the State’s potential in the sector and delivers local jobs, economic diversification and benefits regional communities.